The Graham Norton Show - Series 16, Episode 18 - Julianne Moore, Cuba Gooding Jr, Bill Bailey, Michael Flatley, Gregory Porter, Laura Mvula - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)

Julianne Moore, who is up for an Oscar for Still Alice, says "I haven't won four so far and this is my fifth nomination." Asked if she has prepared a speech just in case she wins, she says, "No, I think it's bad juju. I don't like to prepare anything. I don't want to jinx it."

Revealing she spent four months researching Alzheimer's disease for the role, Julianne says, "I'm very lucky that I have had no contact with the disease personally so I did a lot of preparation because I didn't want to represent anything in the film that I hadn't actually seen. The film isn't depressing. It's about how you live your life, not lose your life."

Having done such a wide spectrum of films, she says she can always spot the fans of her movies, "If it's a college guy, it's going to be The Big Lebowski. If it's a middle aged woman, it's The Hours, and if it's a gay man, it's Far From Heaven!"

Bill Baily too says he is recognised by fans, "Because of Never Mind The Buzzcocks young guys, who seem amazed I don't have an entourage, come up to me and say, 'You're famous, why are you walking around like a normal person?' and the other day I was stopped in traffic and an old lady got into my car and asked me to take her to Cricklewood. I wasn't doing anything so I did!"

Cuba Gooding Jr, asked if fans can be annoying says, "It's all part of the gig and the only time I get irritated is if I'm in the bathroom and they want to have a conversation, shake your hand or hug you. I also think they want you to be exactly the same as you are on screen - and if you're not, they are disappointed."

Talking about an upcoming project in which he plays OJ Simpson, Cuba says "The interesting thing is that people keep asking me my opinion about the case. I was flooded with information and I felt like one of the jurors. There were a lot of crazy and insane things that went down during that period. The guilt went one way and then another so as an actor I formed my own opinion as to whether he was guilty or not and I let that inform my performance but I didn't tell anyone what my opinion was."

Michael Flatley joins Graham for a chat. Asked why his latest tour will be his last, he says, "It's just me. It's time to go. It's just the right time. I love it with all my heart but I think my body can't take it any more. I'm beaten and battered and it's a long time that I've been living on the road out of a suitcase."

Gregory Porter and Laura Mvula perform Water Under Bridges live in the studio, before joining Graham for a chat.

Asked why he wanted to work with Laura, Gregory says, "I fell in love with her voice. We kept passing each other at music festivals and I had the opportunity to re-record this song and she was at the top of my list."

Laura, asked when her second album will be out, says, "It's coming. Honestly! I'm working really hard. There isn't a date but I've been very busy writing and focusing."

This episode started 5 minutes later than the scheduled time of 10:35pm due to over-running 6 Nations Rugby.